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Volume is key to the revival plans for Stellantis, with a new platform to form the basis of 30 new models in a planned 60-model offensive.
Stellantis, the parent company of multiple international car brands like Jeep, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Peugeot, has revealed an ambitious new plan to remain competitive in the changing automotive landscape, spearheaded by the Ranger-sized Ram Dakota and retro Citroen 2CV electric car.
In total, 60 new models are planned over the next five years, half of which will come from the new STLA One platform, across Stellantis' 14 automotive divisions.
The STLA One platform is set to become one of three platforms used by the conglomerate, and will use modular construction, component sharing, and multi-energy compatibility as the building blocks of its future line-up.
The new platform will spawn B-, C-, and D-segment cars, ranging in size from the Opel Corsa hatch and Fiat 600 SUV, up to three-row family SUVs like the Peugeot 5008.
However, key models such as the mid-sized Ram Dakota pick-up set for North America, the smaller SUV-based Rampage ute to be rolled out to Europe, and the revival of the iconic Citroen 2CV will forgo the STLA One platform in favour of other underpinnings.
Citroen has begun teasing a revived 2CV, poised to become a compact city EV that promises the practicality and simplicity of its 78-year-old namesake, but in a modernised package.
Set to be revealed as a concept at the Paris motor show in October, the 2CV appears to be a retreat from the polarising Oli concept shown in 2023 and positioned as a similar urban entry-level commuter car.
The €60 billion (AU$97.5b) plan was announced during the company’s investor day, and over the next five years will also see 50 major model refreshes.
The plan also covers 39 new internal combustion or mild-hybrid models, 24 hybrids, 15 plug-in hybrid or range-extender models, and 29 EVs across those introductions.
Cost savings from volume are the main driver, with the STLA One platform set to have around 70 per cent component compatibility with other Stellantis architectures.
Its multi-energy compatibility reduces the need for dedicated combustion and EV frameworks, with the ability to accommodate everything from mild-hybrid to full EVs.
Beyond product plans, Stellantis aims to improve factory utilisation rates at its European and US factories, but has reduced production targets for Europe, prioritising efficiency over volume.
Among its portfolio of brands, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot, and Ram will be positioned as global brands, and will receive a planned 70 per cent of the upcoming investment.
Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, and Opel/Vauxhall are to become regional brands, targeting specific markets and without plans to extend their reach further outside of the markets they currently operate in.
Brands like Abarth and Lancia will be moved under the operational control of Fiat, and DS Automobiles will be managed by Citroen. Maserati is set to be separated from the main product portfolio and have its own investment plan announced separately later in the year.
Other plans announced included technology and production partnerships, and new technologies to be rolled out alongside the platform rationalisation.
CATL, Mistral AI, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm will contribute to systems like STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit, and STLA AutoDrive to speed development and integration of in-cabin technology, autonomous driving, advanced driver assist systems, and up-to-date battery tech.
Automotive brands, including Dongfeng, Jaguar Land Rover, Leapmotor, and Tata, have also been named as partners. Some like Leapmotor and Dongfeng have already had plans confirmed, while Jaguar Land Rover’s agreement is in the early stages of exploration.
The first STLA One-based model is set to enter production in 2027, with Stellantis targeting two million vehicles based on the architecture by 2035.
Kez Casey migrated from behind spare parts counters to writing about cars over ten years ago. Raised by a family of automotive workers, Kez grew up in workshops and panel shops before making the switch to reviews and road tests for The Motor Report, Drive and CarAdvice.
